Arlington Friends of the Drama

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History

View of the front door of the former church (now serves as an exit directly out of the theater) Afd theatre 1.jpg
View of the front door of the former church (now serves as an exit directly out of the theater)

Arlington Friends of the Drama, also known as AFD Theatre, is located in Arlington, Massachusetts. Founded in 1923, it is one of the ten oldest continually operating community theaters in the United States. [1] Incorporated as a not-for-profit organization in the early 1930s, Arlington Friends of the Drama outbid the Odd Fellows in 1933 to purchase the St. John's Episcopal Church building, which had outgrown the space and was building a new church one block away. Originally purchased for $8200, the building has since served as the organization's theater, and is part of the Arlington Center Historic District. The church pews served as seats until the theater was given a gift of used theater seats in 1947. In 1998 the theater underwent renovations to expand the lobby and make the building handicap accessible. [2]

Contents

The opening season, the theater first produced an evening of one-act plays. Though founded by ladies of the Arlington Woman's Club, by 1924 men were allowed to join and take part in the productions. [3] The first major musical produced by the theater was Iolanthe in 1935. Currently the theater produces four shows per year, usually including a major musical, a comedy, a drama and a smaller musical. The theater provides members of the community experience in all aspects of theater arts through hands-on experience, mentorship, and workshops. In addition, every year the Denis M. Fitzpatrick Scholarship is awarded to a graduating Arlington High School senior, chosen by the high school, who has demonstrated excellence in some aspect of theater arts and wishes to continue their studies at the college level. [4] The theater is a member of EMACT, the Eastern Massachusetts Association of Community Theaters, as well as AACT, the American Association of Community Theatre. [5]

Side view of the building, showing the below-ground door into the lobby and the side entrance into the theater space Afd theatre 2.jpg
Side view of the building, showing the below-ground door into the lobby and the side entrance into the theater space

The theater was subject of the book The Stuff of Dreams: Behind the Scenes of an American Community Theater, by Leah Hager Cohen, [6] and is mentioned frequently in Images of America: Greater Boston Community Theater by Judson Lee Pierce. [7]

Awards

Eastern Massachusetts Association of Community Theaters (EMACT), New England Theater Competition: [8]

Moss Hart Award: [9] [10]

Moss Hart Honorable Mention: Into the Woods 2002, Rabbit Hole 2009

EMACT Distinguished Achievement Awards: [11]

References

  1. ↑ Pierce, Judson Lee (2006). Images of America: Greater Boston Community Theater. Portsmouth, NH: Arcadia Publishing. pp.  20. ISBN   0-7385-4564-3.
  2. ↑ Cohen, Leah (2001). The Stuff of Dreams: Behind the Scenes of an American Community Theater. New York, NY: Viking. pp.  35–40. ISBN   0-670-89981-X.
  3. ↑ Pierce, Judson Lee (2006). Images of America: Greater Boston Community Theater. Portsmouth, NH: Arcadia Publishing. pp.  20. ISBN   0-7385-4564-3.
  4. ↑ Doyle, Glen. "AFD Theatre". Arlington Friends of the Drama.
  5. ↑ American Association of Community Theatre. "Arlington Friends of the Drama". Archived from the original on April 22, 2012. Retrieved November 8, 2011.
  6. ↑ Cohen, Leah Hager (2001). The Stuff of Dreams: Behind the Scenes of an American Community Theater. New York, NY: Viking Press. ISBN   0-670-89981-X.
  7. ↑ Pierce, Judson Lee (2006). Images of America: Greater Boston Community Theater. Portsmouth, NH: Arcadia Publishing. ISBN   0-7385-4564-3.
  8. ↑ Doyle, Glen. "EMACT Awards". Arlington Friends of the Drama. Archived from the original on February 25, 2012. Retrieved October 23, 2011.
  9. ↑ New England Theatre Conference. "Moss Hart Award" . Retrieved November 8, 2011.[ permanent dead link ]
  10. ↑ Doyle, Glen. "Moss Hart Awards". Arlington Friends of the Drama. Retrieved October 23, 2011.[ permanent dead link ]
  11. ↑ EMACT, Board of Directors. "DASH Awards Winners" . Retrieved November 27, 2024.
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